Looking for a NYC rental? Start here.
Diving into the city's rental market can be a scary prospect, made even more daunting by the fact that the city's available rental stock is tough to track. Aside from going straight to a management company to rent in a particular building, there are so many sites to choose from in your quest to find the perfect apartment—but which ones are the best, and which ones should you steer clear of (ahem, Craigslist)?
Here, we've gathered some of our favorite tried and true options. But first, a tip: No one site is going to have all the rentals that are on the market, any more than a single broker would. So try all the tools that are out there. (Looking for a no-fee apartment? We've got you covered.)
Naked Apartments
This site offers broker reviews and the option to search by fee or no fee apartments, but the most useful features are the clearly-formatted listings and the option to receive daily e-mail notifications for listings that meet one's search criteria. A prospective renter can also communicate anonymously with the brokers and landlords listing particular apartments.
On-the-go: The iOS app has been given 4.7 out of 5 stars and the Android app received a 4.0 out of 5 rating among users.
Zumper
Zumper's platform is pretty straightforward, making it easy for apartment hunters to search by neighborhood, price range, apartment size, and amenities. Its layout makes it easy to see the newest listings, apartments with no broker's fee, and to schedule a tour. The website also provides easy-to-digest neighborhood reports and tracks rent trends across the city.
On-the-go: The iOS app has received a 4.7 out of 5 star rating and the Android app has been rated 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Renthop
Renthop's layout isn't the best, but it does have an advantage if you're looking for a apartment: You can see when new spots have been listed in real time and get in touch with the listing agent directly. It also has a "HopScore" for each apartment, which correlates to factors the site says show a listing's quality—like how recently it was listed, or the reputation of the landlord or manager.
On-the-go: Renthop offers an iOS app for landlords and brokers, as well as one for apartment seekers.
Triplemint
Triplemint prides itself on offering "off-market access" and "personalized service" for its rental listings. The website has a map feature that lets you know how many listings are available within New York's various neighborhoods; the downside is that many listings will require you to sign up before you can see more details about the property.
On-the-go: There's no Triplemint app.
StreetEasy
StreetEasy is probably NYC's best-known listings aggregator, tracking both sales and rentals. StreetEasy became so popular thanks, in part, to its myriad search options, which allow users to filter results by location, amenities, square footage, whether or not there's a broker's fee, and plenty of other criteria.
On-the-go: The iOS app boasts 4.8 out of 5 stars among users while the Android app ranks 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Hot Pads
On this site, you can find everything from cheap rooms for rent to apartments leasing in new rental developments. It's pretty straightforward and does a good job at keeping a steady stream of new listings on its site (you can search for ones created as recently as an hour before your search) while promptly removing ones that are no longer available. You can also search for a wide variety of housing types, including sublets and income-restricted apartments.
On-the-go: The iOS app boasts a 4.8 out of 5 rating while the Android app boasts a 4.4 out of 5 rating among users.
Sublet
This low-frills listing site is a good option for those who are looking to rent on a short-term basis. There are also plenty of apartments with standard leasing options and a host of advanced setting that allows you to filter out everything from pet-friendly to handicap accessible homes.
On-the-go: Sublet does not have any apps.
InsideDigs
This app offers a level of personal information not found on many other sites. You can communicate directly with the current resident of an apartment, and they can give star ratings to their listings so you know what you're getting into. The inventory includes shares and sublets in addition to traditional rentals. One caveat: You either have to sign up using your own apartment's details, or pay a $50 annual fee to access details for its listings.
On-the-go: Inside digs has both iOS and Android apps, though its ratings are limited so far.
Pad Mapper
As the name implies, this listings site is organized around a map of the five boroughs, which makes it easier if you're looking for an apartment in a particular neighborhood. Otherwise, the search features are similar to those found on other sites—you can search by number of bedrooms, price, etc.— but you can also look for short-term rentals, too.
On-the-go: The iOS app has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars and the Android app has been rated 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Roomi
If you're looking for a flexible renting situation, then Roomi is the app for you; users are not required to sign year-long leases and can easily find something that's more short term. There are many in-built safety mechanisms for both the renter and the person seeking a roommate in terms of background checks and an in-app payment method. You can refine your search based on the number of months you're interested in renting, the neighborhood, price, and other metrics.
On-the-go: The iOS app has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, and the Android app has 3.5 stars out of 5.
Listings Project
Listings project began in 2003 as an email service sent out by artist Stephanie Diamond. She asked her friends and connections to share information about available listings and then would share those in a weekly email blast. More than a decade later, the concept has essentially remained the same—you still get the email in your inbox every Wednesday—but the email service has become a major website. The team still individually emails with everyone that's interested in listing their apartment—this helps weed out brokers and managers and connects potential renters directly with folks looking to rent.
On-the-go: Listings Project does not have any apps.
RoomZoom
This app presents itself as an alternative to Craigslist and functions like a dating website, except that you're there to find potential roommates. The services matches you up with potential roommates based on your budget and your living habits. You answer a series of questions about yourself, and RoomZoom provides with you a ranked list of potential roommates. All you have to do then is message the person, and see if it's a right fit.
On-the-go: RoomZoom does not have any apps.
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